Fernando Consignado

Radio Veritas

August 12, 2004, in Nagcarlan, Philippines

Consignado, a correspondent with the Manila-based Radio Veritas, was found dead in his home in the town of Nagcarlan, 47 miles (75 kilometers) south of the capital, Manila, according to local news reports. The journalist died of a single gunshot to the head, according to police investigators.

Consignado, 50, was a vegetable farmer and a reporter on community affairs for the Roman Catholic radio station. Colleagues at Radio Veritas said Consignado's slaying might have been related to his reporting a few years ago on illegal gambling and anomalies in local road construction projects, according to a local news report. Police cited Consignado's recent involvement in a land dispute as a possible motive, and said that he was overheard arguing with a relative shortly before a neighbor found him dead, according to local news reports.

Motive Unconfirmed: CPJ is investigating to determine whether the death was work-related.